A family that games together stays together, according to a new study by GfK NOP, a U.K. based international market research company. The study reports that 4 out of 5 (83 percent) of people in the UK believe the Nintendo Wii increases family interaction and made parents “feel close to their children.”

Pollster GfK Nop polled 464 people aged 16 and over and the report claims:

“While console games playing has traditionally been by oneself or with friends, the Wii appears to encourage people to play amongst the family. Close to a half (46 per cent) of Wii owners say they play Child against Parent (compared to a fifth – 21 per cent – for PS3 owners) and 43 percent of Wii owners play with their Spouse or Partner (compared to just 27 percent of XBOX 360 owners).

“Less than one in ten (9 percent) of all people asked claimed that playing on a Wii is unsociable; while one in three (33 percent) claim the PS3 is unsociable.”

Richard Matthews, Director of Insight at GfK NOP says, “The Nintendo Wii has been innovative in breaking down age and gender barriers and in changing traditional perceptions of gaming from solitary and anti-social to healthy, educational and interactive.” One wonders, however, if it is the game system that seems to engender feelings of closeness or the fact that the family is engaged in lightly physical, fun activity that enriches their time spent together? I love the tennis, bowling and golf games on Wii.

For many kids, board games are “bored” games because they often do not require much physical activity. The Wii game system, however, involves the entire body.  It also seems that kids really enjoy competing against their parents. Why? Because this is one of the best and most healthy ways for kids to test their own development and progress in their journey toward becoming an adult. One of the most memorable days in a boy’s life, for example, is the day he finally beats his dad at something. It gives him a sense that “I’m becoming a man.”

Additionally, the Wii game system creates a context for convivial family environments. ”Convivial” is the term used by a high school student in a youth ministry context when I asked him what he longed for at his home with his family. “I wish it were more convivial,” he said. This kid, wrestling with his own faith, is in a home with good doctrine but no laughter. Sad, isn’t it? For many kids, home is all business: Do the right things, believe the right things, and think as conservatively as your parents with little to no laughter or genuine affection.

The Wii game system also seems to break down generational and gender barriers, according to the study. Some of you may remember when churches used to be like this before the days of extreme forms of “youth this” and “women’s that” or “children’s this” and “men’s that.” Since most kids grow up in the church totally quarantined from adults in church life, until they graduate from high school (unless they get dumped into “college and career” or immediately turned into youth “interns”), some might suggest that churches set up “Wii Nights” because, according to the study, women and those over 60-years-old have taken a particular liking to the game system as well. Who knew?